 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello,
Question regarding ESF! I skied in a group lesson last year with an amazing instructor who was great for my confidence on the slopes. We go again to the same resort during the first week of easter, so prime time school holidays.
Now I would like to book private lessons for 5 whole days or 5 halve days of whatever is available, because I feel this might work better to work on my technique and to actually progress, rather then a group lesson. Also I don't want to risk being stuck with an instructor who pushes me too much, and will undermine my confidence again.
Now I feel personally hesistant to contact the local ESF office and ask for 5 days of private lessons with this instructor, without having some information on the booking/allocation proces first. How does this actually works? During easter holidays I guess most instructors are obliged to do group lessons? Do they earn more with group lessons versus privates?
I wish to avoid to ask ESF, and then get the answer the instructor is not available, and they will propose me another one (that I don't know etc). In case that specific instructor is not available, I think I rather take the group lessons anyway.
I don't have any contact details so can't ask the instructor himself. Otherwise I would and ask him for recommendations if he is not available (or willing to teach me again (I'm still very much a beginner, so can understand it's annoying to go slow the whole time)).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Ava2000, not sure you have any choice but to speak to the specific ESF. Explain to them who your instructor was before, and ask if they're still working there, and if so you'd like to book them specifically. They'll tell you if that's possible or not.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Easter holidays are also a lot lower demand than (say) half term and New Year - so you may find the school has enough capacity to release a particular instructor for private lessons - (I assuming you're not talking all day lessons). I would phone the ESF office in question (they are all franchises), and ask the general question.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Ava2000, 5 whole days of private lessons? That's winning the lottery territory!
Private lessons are usually 1-2 hours in the morning or afternoon. If you book 6 days x 4 hrs a day its going to cost upwards of €5000 even if zou cab wangle a discount
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Ava2000, Any decent ski school will endeavour to meet your needs. But you are talking about France! Follow the advice from @swskier, and call them direct. Here in Austria we will always try and give you the instructor you've requested and no, we don't get any difference in pay when you book through the school. But if you find him/her/them again, make sure you get a phone number.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
@Ava2000, 5 whole days of private lessons? That's winning the lottery territory!
Private lessons are usually 1-2 hours in the morning or afternoon. If you book 6 days x 4 hrs a day its going to cost upwards of €5000 even if zou cab wangle a discount |
Not sure how it would get to €5000!
Private lessons are usually in the range of €80 to €85 per hour with ESF based on my recent experience over the last three or four years.
As recently as December I had a 3 hour 1-2-1 with an ESF instructor in La Plagne for €250 for a three hour session, there was no discount at play and I booked through the ESF office . So even if the OP maxed out at 5 full days at 6 hours a day it would come to appr €2500 (assuming there isn’t some kind of discount available for buying so many hours). Not cheap but half of €5000!
Full days of 1-2-1 over 5 days also seems a little intense though. Not sure id personally want to do any more than half days.
I’ve found ESF to be very accommodating in providing preferred instructor and like the OP I’ve often chosen based on the instructor having lead a group ski lesson that I was involved in.
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Thx for the replies!
I'm aware of the prices... But also really want to make progress and master those parallel turns... I feel I will never get there without proper private instruction, and without going/turning faster, I will never be able to ski together with the rest of my family (who ski from young age).
Would do a combination of half- and full days probably/ideally.
That's also why I'm interested in how the booking process works. Because if the pay for the instructor per hour is the same, it's less interesting for an instructor to not do the group lessons for a week I would say, and take half day private lessons?
So if I contact them and they offer me just the 12-14 slot each day (with the preferred instructor), that's probably the reason. And I would probably get offered a less experienced instructor who would have availability for 4h lessons each day.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I’m completely with you on investing in lessons to improve. I came to skiing very late and have taken a similar approach (as have many others!)
I really think your best bet is just to contact the local ESF where your preferred instructor is based and let them know what you’d like to have in terms of hours and when (after being sure that you and they are talking about the same instructor!).
If you’d had the name and number of the instructor you could have contacted them
beforehand to check their availability but that doesn’t seem to be an option here. Did you stay in touch with anyone else in the group who might have their contact details?
If ESF can accommodate your preference I’m sure they will. I think private lessons are viewed well by the instructors / preferred to group lessons , particularly if you got on well with them
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Might be worth mentioning the resort as well - others may have recommendations.
I’ve used ESF for private lessons many times, and have always maintained the price/quality ratio was very good. However, having experienced the basi oriented instructors on the last couple of years bashes, I would say if you have the funds, go with one of them - more expensive, but you may reach your goal faster
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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E70/hr in Argentiere
We’ve used ESF instructors for private lessons quite frequently. The best way is to speak to the instructor themselves. The ski school may be able to put you in touch if you didn’t get their number at the end of the lesson.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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We requested a specific ESF instructor for our upcoming trip at Easter. I emailed the ESF office, they replied saying they'd check with her, then replied confirming it. Fairly sure the booking confirmation gave her name, too.
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@Ava2000, Don't worry about the instructor. If he's on a season contract he gets paid regardless and if he's freelancing then he'll be happy not to have to deal with half a dozen folks with differing needs.
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You know it makes sense.
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Can only echo the advice given above having done the same.
First couple of years we did that, but you need to get his number when you see him next time. Now I contact our guy directly and he sets it up with the office and they send me a link. He’s also with ESF and scrupulous about doing everything through the office.
Friend has an instructor who works for himself as well as for a different ski school (not ESF) and he will negotiate a price direct if the ski school can spare him.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks for all the advice!
I did contact the office in the end, and turns out there is - as expected - not much availability because the instructor is doing group lessons that week... I did book one private lesson though, and will take some group lessons myself, hopefully I meet another good instructor with more availability  .
I booked a couple lessons in the local snow dome here at home and hope to learn a bit more there (although I hate to ski there).
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Poster: A snowHead
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Just contact the ESF office and enquire about that particular instructor, and explain he reasoning behind it, they can only say no.
I'd personally be prefacing the question with the idea that you want to improve and what's the best way to do so, but still allowing times to send skiing with your family - no point going on holiday with them to never see them. It might be that the instructor can say a day of intensive will get you so far, and then maybe a couple of mornings may aid the progression.
It's the time when you go solo and have to out the instructor's advice into play where you make the gains ultimately because there's no one holding your hand.
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